A/N: You guys are lucky to get this!!! NO REVIEWS! Even if you thought it sucked, review it anyway! Just makes an author feel a little better. So anyway, CHAPTER 2!!
And if you're all nice and review my little tale, I might even give you more….
The crew were idly chatting over a bowl of protein mush while Turb0, the resident car fanatic, talking intently about the Hotrod he had inside the Matrix. Paradox wasn't really listening, but thinking about the night before. It had been fun, no doubt about it. Even though he was quite scared of being that close to the Agents, he knew that he had done some good through his actions.
Turb0 was half way through explaining the perfect balance of the front when he was interrupted by a beeping coming from the Core. Reflex quickly rushed off, and soon yelled "Lee, I think you should see this!"
Lewar jumped out of her seat and ran off to Reflex, and didn't return for several minutes.
"We're going in," she said plainly when she came back. Paradox looked at her in surprise. "Dox and I are to see the Oracle."
They were loaded into an old hotel, which was almost always used in trips to the Oracle. Paradox had heard it was the exit that the Nebuchadnezza had used when Neo was first taken to see the Oracle, and were betrayed by Cypher.
They climed into the muscle car that Turb0 had chosen out, leaving Mace at the exit to guard it. Turb0 was able to navigate the busy, narrow streets easily, turning smoothly, and never giving up the chance to rev the massive engine proudly.
Paradox followed Lewar to the Oracle's door without word. They stood outside for a few seconds, looking at each other apprehensively. Then, as Lewar moved to open the door, it was opened from the inside by Aphereal, priestess of the Oracle.
"I was wondering how long you were going to stand outside," she smiled. "Come inside, she's waiting."
They walked in, and Paradox was surprised how normal it was. He could've thought this was the wrong address if it wasn't for the floating soft toys in the living room, being directing by small children. Lewar was directed by Aphereal into the kitchen, and Paradox was told to wait. He stood by the door in his baggy black cargo pants and long jacket. He felt rather out of place, surrounded by these innocent children dressed in white, as if he was bringing violence into their peaceful world. After about ten minutes, Lewar came out, with a confused smile on her face, but it may have been Paradox's imagination, but he thought she had avoided catching his eye.
He heard his name being called from inside the kitchen, and walked in, ducking to avoid the beads. He almost stoped dead in his tracks when he saw the most ordinary person he could ever have imagined. He suddenly felt like laughing out loud as he worked it out. All this normalcy was just a cover to avoid being detected by the machines. Inside, this woman was one of the most abnormal person to have ever lived. There stood an elderly woman with graying hair, a green apron, and old glasses on a chain, slicing pieces of thick, steaming bread with a large knife.
"Its not too hard to understand, kiddo. It's a useful disguise, no doubt there," she remarked in an old, yet wise sounding voice, even with the slang. Paradox was surprised. He thought he didn't say that out loud, but then, he could be mistaken. He had the tendency to say things out loud when he thought he was only thinking them. Never really got him into a good situation.
"Here, take a seat," she said. "I've just baked some bread, and it's still very warm. I'm sure it will make you feel better." Paradox sat down, and took a slice of bread the Oracle offered to him on a plate. She was right, it was so lovely and warm. No matter how real, fresh bread out of the oven would always be good.
"Thank you, you're an excellent baker."
"That I am," she answered. "But I didn't bring you all the way here just to give you something to eat." She continued to slice. "That was quite a stunt you pulled last night. You ought to be more careful. You're to valuable to loose in a random attack on the Agents."
"I'm not that important" he shrugged off. "I don't have a path set down in front of me, or anything, and not much responsibility."
"I'm not talking about a rank, I'm talking about as a person. She cares a lot about you, and she couldn't take loosing you. You're very important to that girl, and however much you fight with it, she's very important to you too." He felt uncomfortable, as she gave him a deep look. Sure, Lewar was a great friend but deep down, past the denial, he thought he had felt something… "And don't go talking about not having a path," she continued. "It's already been set down in front of you, you just didn't know you were following it."
Paradox was surprised by that. He thought only really important, world changing people like Neo, and Trinity, and Morpheus had a path to follow, not 19 year olds on a small ship, that is almost forgotten by the Zion Council until it shows up in the city.
"Don't go thinking like that now, boy," she said, startling Dox again. "No one is too small for a path. How did you think Neo, or Trinity started out? They were never normal, but no one is. They just happen to be less normal than anyone else, right now. And so do you." She noticed the look of disbelief on his face. She put down her knife, and sat down at the table, lighting a cigarette. "Ever wonder how you can tell when Agents are coming? Or how you know exactly what's going to happen before it does?"
"I've always been able to do that. It's just a little hunch I get. And I thought there were quite a few rebels who could feel the Agents sometimes."
"Yes, there are, but only one who can as strong as you can."
"Neo?"
She nodded. "And what you feel is a lot more than a hunch, kid. You don't see the world without time, you can feel it. Not nearly as well as I can, but I was made for this kind of thing. You were made for something else."
"What?"
"Well, for starters, you'll have to help the One destroy the Agents."
"Help the One?" Paradox laughed. "Neo doesn't need help! There's almost nothing he can't do."
"Exactly. Notice that 'almost' in there? You're helpful ability fills in that 'almost', or at least some of it. There are others who can fill in the rest."
"Others? Who?"
"Trinity, for one. Morpheus, too. One who hasn't yet been freed. And another who is conveniently waiting in the room next door."
"Lewar?!" Paradox almost fell out of his chair.
"You didn't think you could be the only hero here, did you? I believe Turb0 is getting sick waiting downstairs, so you better get moving." Paradox nodded. He didn't know what to say. He was actually to help Neo in the War against the Machines, he was going to be some use to the greatest hero Zion had ever seen, the man to brought hope to every soul in the last city of the humans.
"Oh, and kid?" Paradox turned to face her on his way to the door. "Good luck."
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Lewar thought Paradox looked a little shaken, but happy none the less. He gave her a warm smile, she returned, and walked back downstairs with her, once again not saying a thing.
"'Bout time!" shouted Turb0 from the driver's seat as they came outside. "I was about to send a search party in there!"
She saw Paradox falter in his step for a moment. "Get down!" he shouted sharply as Lewar saw a familiar flash of blue static, and an Agent replaced the homeless man on the street. Turb0 ,who had fought beside Paradox for a few years, knew to heed his warnings, and ducked instantly just before the head rest of his seat burst into a cloud of gunpowder and stuffing. Paradox and Lewar whipped out guns and bolted for the car, firing at the now appearing Agents. They leapt into the back seat, and Turb0 sped off, with two Agents following them.
"Where?!" shouted Turb0 as he tried to dodge oncoming traffic.
"Forget the old exit!" Lewar shouted back, as she grabbed her phone and Reflex answered immediately.
"What the hell is going on down there?! All of a sudden, a leisurely stroll turned into a battle!"
"Does Mace know?" The young captain asked urgantly
"Yep, I've just made the call, so she'll be out safe. You, I'm not sure about."
"Any ideas?! Turb0 is driving randomly here!"
The answer came though the phone with the utter most urgency. "Left, now!"
"Left!" she shouted to Turb0.
"Get to the old hangers at the West Airport, hanger 24, I'll be waiting for you there!"
"Got it."
"Good luck, Cap'n, you'll need it!"
With Turb0 driving like a madman, and car drivers turning into Agents, it was a terrifying trip. Both Lewar and Paradox were hanging out the windows, guns blazing at the Agents popping up everywhere, jumping from one body to the next. After Lewar skillfully shot a car into a flip to stop traffic coming from ahead, and then behind, all they had to do was get there before the Agents knew where they were going. Just as they started to relax, a pedestrian turned into an Agent, and fired straight into the windshield.
Turb0 cried out in pain as glass shattered in front of him, but he was clutching his right arm, blood pouring out. Paradox dived for the wheel, and got the speeding car back into a straight line, just as they burst throughout the security fencing of the airport.
"It's ok, buddy, we're almost there. We're almost home." It sounded like Paradox was trying to reassure himself as much as he was Turb0, but kept driving.
"There, hanger 24!" yelled Lewar, and the vehicle swung around in a screeching halt at the side entrance to the hanger. Inside Lewar could hear the phone start to ring. She shot the door open, and Turb0 made for the phone.
"No!" cried Paradox, but it was too late, Turb0 had just entered the sight of the Agent who was waiting in the shadows. With an enraged cry from both Paradox and Lewar, Turb0 fell to the ground with a dull thud, just before the body of the already dead Agent did with a bullet wound right between the eyes. Paradox stood with his gun pointing straight at where the Agent had waited, smoke coming from his gun.
They ran to Turb0's side, but it was too late, a bullet had punctured his lung and heart. He didn't have a chance. Not believing what was right in front of him, Paradox checked his pulse, and then looked into his eyes, but they were blank. Overwhelmed with sudden grief and rage, he walked back over to the body that the Agent had occupied, and shot it in the chest, again and again, until Lewar called out.
"Dox! That's not doing anything. The Agent is gone, Turb0 is dead, and we have to use this exit before we end up just like him. Come on, let's go home, and say a IrealI goodbye." She handed the handset to him, and he pressed it against his ear with a last look at Turb0. He disappeared into an awaiting world, and the handset fell. She replaced it on the hook, and it started to ring again. She looked over at Turb0.
"Thankyou, Turb0. You were the best pilot there was."
She faded into the Real World with a metallic pang in her head.
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A/N: You like? No Like? which ever, TELL ME IN A REVIEW!! :) if you do, more to come in Chapter 3!! if you don't…..well, I'll probably add it anyway because I can get very bored. BUT REVIEW ANYWAY!
